Barry Zito

As you approach the end of the first month of the fantasy baseball season, like all smart fantasy owners you must look every day for better players. Sure, you may like a guy on your bench who plays for the local nine, but fantasy baseball is won with the head—not the heart.

Former A’s ace Barry Zito will be returning to the Bay area on a minor league contract according to the San Francisco Chronicle. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman says the deal has a base salary of $1 million and Zito can earn up to an additional $175,000 in incentives.

CBS baseball insider John Heyman reports that there is no evidence that Zito, 36, actually sought a job this off-season. There is no word of any injury for the lefty, who just finished a 5-11season with a 5.74 ERA for the San Francisco Giants, the final year of a seven-season $126 Million deal.

Because the 35-year-old Zito realized this moment was coming, he recently took out a full-page newspaper ad to thank the fans for standing by him through a tough tenure on this side of San Francisco Bay. The 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner across the water for the Oakland Athletics, Zito just completed a $126 million, seven-year contract with the Giants.

San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean all but finalized pitcher Barry Zito’s long-expected departure following seven tough years, while saying two of his top priorities moving forward from a disappointing 2013 season are re-signing Tim Lincecum and Hunter Pence.

Making perhaps his final start for the Giants Wednesday against the rival Dodgers will be left-hander Barry Zito (4-11, 5.91). It may be the final appearance in the Bay Area as a member of the home team.